Factoid:
In the folklore of the Tinguian tribe of the Philippines, the ALAN are deformed spirits with wings and fingers and toes pointing backwards, described in some stories as half-bird, half-human. They create human children from menstrual blood or miscarried fetuses to raise as their own. Because of their deformities, humans became afraid of them. According to legend, a human once saw them and ran in fear but because of his panic, fell and was knocked unconscious. The Alan were alarmed and tried to revive the human by offering him golden beads (in some legends, their tears) and other precious stones. When the man came to, he saw the precious stones and gold beads and took them, fending the Alan away. The Alan begged for him to return at least the most precious of beads, a double-magic bead, allowing him to keep the rest, but he refused. As a result, the Alan chose to become invisible to human eyes and showed themselves only to whichever family they presented a magical bead to, which was passed down from generation to generation.
I have taken the liberty to use the Alan in my story as half-bird, half-humans, and call them collectively ALANON–the birdmen of Dapit-adlaw. They are friendly and helpful, albeit deformed creatures. My Alanon also have forward facing fingers and toes, which is unlike several Philippine myths, which have a preponderance of creatures with backward facing feet and hands. That is not to say that none of the Alanon have this unusual deformity.
Cindy Lapeña: Creativity Unlimited 